Early Orthodontic Treatments

Protect your child’s smile for the future.

As parents of three children, Drs. Matthew and Courtney Dunn understand how valuable your children are to you. That is why they encourage you to have your kids come in for their first orthodontic exam by approximately age 7 (seven), as suggested by the American Association of Orthodontists. At this age, bite problems may already be present that if not corrected, may be difficult to fix when older and may even cause permanent damage of the adult teeth. Even a single crooked tooth may throw off a bite, hamper proper teeth cleaning and result in functional issues as your children grow older, including cavities, gum disease and speech disorders.

In the event your children do not need treatment at the time of the first examination, do not feel as though you have made an unneeded visit. Those kids that do not need orthodontic treatment when they come in for their first consultation enter into our Roadrunner Kid’s Club. These kids will visit us at least twice a year to observe development and growth of the teeth, jaws and face. The Roadrunner Kid’s Club program will give us the opportunity to assess your children on a routine basis, making sure that we begin treatment for your child at the optimal time. Best of all, the appointments for the Roadrunner Kid’s Club growth and guidance program are complimentary.

Some teeth and jaw issues do require early treatment. Crossbites can result in lower jaw shifting and need to be addressed immediately. Likewise, underbites and severe overbites usually need early treatment.

Dental problems such as early loss of baby teeth, or excess crowding which may result in damage to the gums, are also examples of issues that may necessitate early treatment. Phase I treatment typically lasts 8-12 months. Your child then enters our Roadrunner Kid’s Club growth and guidance program until ready for a 2nd phase of orthodontics, once the remaining adult teeth erupt. Almost all of those children that have a first phase of treatment when 7-10 years old will need a 2nd phase of full orthodontics when 11-13 years old to guide the remaining adult teeth to their optimal positions.

Given our conservative treatment philosophy, most children (approximately 75-80%) do not need multiple phases of orthodontics.For these kids, there are numerous benefits to delaying treatment until the adult teeth have more fully erupted (normally around 11-13 years old). At this point in your child’s development, jaw growth takes place more rapidly, improving treatment efficiency and resulting in more stable and often better results.

While it can be confusing, waiting often results in reduced time wearing braces, less office visits, and less complications. In addition, cooperation and understanding are improved when kids are older and more mature. From a financial standpoint, waiting for a single comprehensive orthodontic treatment at 11-13 years old is generally less expensive than a two-phase orthodontic plan.

As you can see, determining the optimal time for orthodontics is decided on a patient-by-patient basis. All of us are unique, and no two patients have the same teeth, bite, jaws or face. You can count on Dunn Orthodontics to coordinate with you, your child, and your family or pediatric dentist to make sure that the optimal orthodontic treatment is rendered at the optimal time.

Call the Dunn Orthodontics office near you and schedule your child’s orthodontic exam and consultation today!